EMERSON, Neb. (AP) – A 55-year-old northeast Nebraska man has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide. Authorities say Robert Mahler, of Hubbard, was driving drunk the night of Sept. 9, on the wrong side of Nebraska Highway 35 near Emerson, when his car struck a motorcycle. Two people on the motorcycle were killed: 20-year-old Christopher Oberg, of Mapleton, Iowa; and his passenger, 19-year-old Alexis Calfee, of Bennet, Neb. They were students at Wayne State College. Authorities say Mahler’s blood alcohol level that night was more than twice the legal limit.

The USDA’s Director of Rural Development in Iowa will be in Audubon this Friday, September 23^rd, as part of a “Rural Issues Listening Post” session with community and economic development leaders, as well as the general public. Director Bill Menner will listen as local officials discuss issues and opportunities they encounter in their ongoing efforts to help keep rural Iowa vibrant and prosperous.

The conversation takes place 9-a.m. Friday, in the offices of the Audubon County Economic Development Corporation, at 800 Market Street, in Audubon.

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich says he’ll unveil a new, 21st century “Contract with America” next week during a speech in Iowa. Gingrich was the architect of the first “Contract with America” which helped Republicans win the U.S. House in 1994. It contained things like a call for term limits on members of congress and for a balanced budget amendment. During an appearance in Sioux City Tuesday, Gingrich hinted his new “contract” will include proposals to reduce the size of the federal budget.  “I would apply the model of cutting out giving money to crooks, which we think is probably $150 billion a year. I would be prepared to reform the entitlements,” Gingrich said in Sioux City. “If you return Medicaid back to the states, the estimate is you save $700 billion over a 10 year period.” Gingrich said. Gingrich touts so-called “supply-side” economics, arguing by cutting tax RATES the government will collect more in total taxes because more people will be working.

“I’m for more revenue by putting Americans back to work so they pay taxes, I’m for more revenue for American energy productions, so I’m for more revenue. I’m just against tax increases,” Gingrich said. Gingrich made his comments after a forum at Morningside College. Last night in Sioux City, Gingrich and his wife held a public screening of one of the documentaries they produced.

(Radio Iowa)